At Columbia University, scene of intense protests, a calmer situation on Oct. 7

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11) -- For much of this year, Columbia University in New York City has been the scene for anti-Israel demonstrations that have set a precedent for campus demonstrations worldwide.

On Monday, protests continued at Columbia University, but normally tight security and restrictions for entrance to the campus were made that much more restrictive, on the anniversary of the Hamas attack. That increased security, as well as formal opportunities for people with opposing views to interact, are being cited as reasons why demonstrations on and near campus were peaceful.

At 11 a.m. Monday, dozens of people gathered outside of Columbia's main gate on Broadway, flying Israeli flags, and holding up posters with names and photographs of people kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. 

Participants said that their gathering was also a memorial to the 1,200 people killed in the Hamas attack on Israel. They recited the mourner's Kaddish prayer, and sang songs, in commemoration. 

Their event, led by Columbia Business School professor Shai Davidai, was timed to preempt what happened at 11:45 a.m. That's when a campuswide walkout took place, organized by pro-Palestinian groups, to mourn the 42,000 people in Gaza who've been killed in the war that began after the initial Hamas attack. 

Katjae Vandenberg is a Columbia junior year student. She described what happened on campus for her.

"We were let out early of our class," she said. "Our professor was like, 'You know what, you'll be free to go do anything on campus that you want to do, or on campus.' So, very much encouraging civil participation."

The walkout was one of a variety of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia on Monday.

Demonstrators also held a rally on the steps of Low Library, the main administration building, and they also covered a lawn with names and photos of some of the many Gaza residents who've died in the war. 

That lawn sign demonstration was on the other side of the college's central walkway from another lawn on which a display of Israelis killed or taken hostage on Oct. 7 was set up. That pro-Israel display was on the same lawn where pro-Palestinian demonstrators had set up the tent encampment that was the inspiration for dozens of similar protests on campuses nationwide this past spring. The encampment at Columbia has been taken down at least three times in the last year. 

In fact, the overall situation on campus now is a contrast to last spring, when students and others took over Hamilton Hall, and were forcefully removed by the NYPD. 

The more peaceful situation now may be due in part to the high security presence on and around campus -- five of the nine gates onto the central campus were padlocked. Entry was allowed only through checkpoints operated by campus police, and a valid I.D. is required. 

Another factor promoting a calmer situation, according to some students, is a dialogue table set up near the center of campus. It's a forum where students and faculty on all sides of the issue can talk. 

Jacob Gold, a Columbia sophomore, was among the dozens of participants in the dialogue table. 

"There were both some very strongly pro-Palestinian students, as well as some strongly pro-Israel students," he said, adding that while minds might not have been changed, they were open. 

"It has been a really constructive thing for those who have participated," he continued. "The unfortunate thing is there are so few [people participating]."